Doncaster Rovers return to league action on Tuesday evening, as Sean O'Driscoll's side entertain Gordon Strachan's Middlesbrough at Keepmoat Stadium.

Earlier this season, Rovers were on the receiving end of a 2-0 defeat at the Riverside Stadium, however since then there has been a change of manager and an influx of new players, with big-named players such as Robert Huth and Tuncay moving back into the Premier League with Stoke City.

Despite the turn-around of fortunes for 12th-placed Boro, Rovers boss O'Driscoll maintains that his side will be coming up against one of the division's big teams who will pose a big test for his players.

"Middlesbrough are still one of the bigger teams in the division," admits the Rovers manager.

"They have the resources to go with that, although they would probably be disappointed with their first half of the season despite starting brightly - but there are always big expectations of the teams that come down from the Premier League. They have the disappointment of coming down a division after being in the Premier League for so long; I sometimes think that it would be a little bit easier to take if you go up and everybody expects you to come down at the end of the season. However, for a team that have been up there as long as Middlesbrough, it can be a difficult transition. At the early part of the season, it looked as if they were handling it really well but you can never tell in football as things change in an instant. They're now back to regrouping and trying to build again. I think that Gordon (Strachan, Middlesbrough manager) has got one or two injury problems, like most people now. They also have a few players who are attracting interest from far bigger clubs. Whether that breeds unrest; I'm not sure, but I thought that Adam Johnson at the start of the season - plus some pre-season games we saw Middlesbrough play in - was a stand-out player in The Championship. Chelsea must think that if they have reportedly put a £5 million bid in, so he is key for Middlesbrough."

Adam Johnson - vital for Boro

The second half of the campaign has always been a successful time for Doncaster Rovers, however O'Driscoll admits that it doesn't matter which period of the season you are in - every game is pivotal.

"All games are difficult games and they all prove to be different challenges. We're still excited to be in The Championship and if we walk off the pitch after the last game against Swansea and we can say that we have done everything that we can - that is all we can ask. Every game is pivotal and if Sheffield Wednesday win another couple of games back to back, then they will be talking about the possibility of a Play-Off place. Three weeks ago, they were talking about the possibility of relegation. In hindsight, you can pick out pivotal times of the season, but everybody says 'you have to have a good start', then it's maintain it - then the Christmas period comes and you have to pick up points, as well as over Easter. Then there's the end-of-season run in, so whatever part of the season we are in, it is pivotal."